Clamp



Nov. 13, 1928.

B. W. JOHNSON CLAMP Filed March 16. 1928 IIIIJ Inventor flW'faizms'ozg q B WW y Attorne Patented Nov. 13,1928.

uNiTEn STATES 1330B W. JOHNSON, 0F FERTILE, MINNESOTA.

CLAMP.

Application filed March 16, 1928. Serial 110. 262,206.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps andhas tor its principal ob ect to provide a combined fastener of the clamp type. 7

One of the important objects of the presentinvention is to provide a clamping device for use for various purposes such as suspending clothes from a clothes, line, in such a manner as to permit the ready and easy removal of the clothes from the line. With the ordinary type of clothes pin it has been found in cold weather, that the clothes suspended trom the line will become frozen and considerable ditficulty is experienced in removing the clothes pins from the line; a 7

By providing a clothes pin of the character such as is embodied in the present invention, the above disadvantages are overcome.

A further object is to. provide a clamp that may be used for other purposes, in an equally 61110161113- manner, the construction of the clamp being such as to enable the same to be readily and easily operated for opening the same whenever desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention proceeds and when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view,

through the clamp embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, the sectional view being on an enlarged scale.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved clamp the same comprising an elongated channel shaped bar 2, that is constructed otgalvanized sheet metal. The upstanding sides of the channel shaped bars are cut away at the respective ends of said bar as shown at 3, with reference more particularly to Figure 1 and the extremities of the base portion of the channel shaped bar are slightly curved upwardly as at 4. This construction provides stationary jaws at the respective ends of the bar for a purpose to be presently described. I

A pair of relatively short channel'shaped members 5 and 6 respectively are associated with the respective end portions of the channel shaped bar 1, and as the construction of each of these last mentioned members is identical, the description of one is thought to sufiice as a description of both.

The sides of each of thesemembers tapers gradually from the center toward .the respect ve ends or each member, and this construction is clearly shown in Figure 1. A rivet 7 extends'throughthe sides of the channel shaped bar 1, inwardly of each of the stationary aws formed at the outer ends thereof and the sides of the smaller channel shaped members 5 and 6 are disposed within the sides of the channel shapedbar and the interme diate portions of the sides of each of the members 5 and 6 are formed withregistering openings to cooperate with the openings formed in each end portion of the bar 1, so that the rivet 7 extends through each of the members 5 and 6 whereby to aii'ord a pivotal connection between the intermediate portions of the members 5 and 6 and the bar .2.

An axial coil spring 8 is disposed around each of the transversely extending pins 7, one end of each spring engaging the base portion of the channel shaped bar 2, while the other end engages the base portion of the adjacent pivoted member at the inner end portion thereof in the manner as clearly shown in Figure 1. V

The outer end portions of the pivoted members form aws for cooperation with the stationary jaws 4:, and as is clearly shown in Figure 1, the outer extremities of the base portions of the pivoted members are slightly curved inwardly, as illustrated at 9, and the inwardly curved portions 9 terminate upof the pivoted members form actuating handles and normally the handles are disposed formed in the intermediate portion of the If desired, the side edges of the complementary jaws may be serrated.

It is readily obvious that when the handle portion of the pivoted members 5 and 6 are pressed inwardly, the movable jaws are separated with respect to the stationary jaws so that the clamp may be properly positioned for use and by releasing the handle portions, the springs 8 will automatically move the movable jaws into cooperative engagement with the stationary jaws and thus properly sup port the object. In use as a clothes pin, either end of the clamp may be attached to the article and the other end will be attached to a clothes line. used as a bill file, by using either jaw structure to receive the bills, and an opening 10 is base of the channeled bar 2, whereby the same maybe hung on .a nail.

A clamp of the above mentioned character can be used for various purposes, and the. same will, at all times, be positive and 'efii- If desired, a clamp may be shaped bar, a pin extending through registhat various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scopeof the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

In a clamp, a channel shaped bar,the sides thereof being .cut awayflat its respective ends to form stationary jaws, said ends of the base of the channel shaped bar being curved upwardly to form lips, channel shaped members having each their sides tapering gradually from the center of the member to the respective ends thereof to form a jaw at one end of said member, and a handle at the other end,the sides of each member being disposed within the respective sides of the channel tering openings in the sides of each channel shaped bar inwardly of the stationary aw and through the intermediate portions of the sides of the memberswhereby said members being pivoted on said bars, the jaw formed ends of the pivoted members being formed with inwardly curved lips at the extremities of the base portion of the channel shaped member for cooperation with the aforementioned lips, andtensional means for maintaining the jaws in a closed position. 7 V

In testimony whereof I aihx my signature BROR w. JoHNsouf v 

